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WHY CHOOSE EVAN J. THOMAS?Evan J. Thomas is considered one of the most versatile photographers in Chicago. Evan has the type of personality where he can get along with any type of person in almost any type of circumstance. He will make sure you are comfortable with the situation and will bring out the personality of even the most camera shy. His concepts and ideas are intermixed with your ideas for the session. His work isn't cookie cutter where every shoot looks exactly the same and on the same background, his shoots are tailored to that of YOUR personality, style and look.

PERSONALIZED COACHINGNot everyone is comfortable in front of the camera. You may feel self-conscious, you may think you can't find the right outfit. You are with me for a reason, to get the BEST photo you can take. It is my job to make you feel comfortable with the circumstances. It is my job to figure out how to make you comfortable and we will work together to make the best out of our time and make sure you look your best.

ATTENTION TO DETAILI take a lot of photos, different angles, lighting and looks. If a photo I take is not up to your standards or my standards it will be deleted. I make sure you look natural and not awkward. I make sure your collar is straight, your clothes aren't all jakey, no fly away hairs etc. I get the best out of the images I take.

ITS FUN!You may be nervous but at some point I WILL make you laugh or snicker so your comfort level is where it should be. If you aren't comfortable and being yourself it will show, I have many fool proof ways to make sure you are making the most of your time with me that you can.

Tips for the best head shotsGO PROSpend the money. It’s worth it. Go to a professional, who is trained, understands lighting, and takes headshots for a living, not some friend who happens to have a decent camera who “sorta knows a little about photography.” Save those pictures for Instagram, and leave the headshots to the pros. Research your photographer! Know what they are good at before you shoot with them. Good headshots range from $200-$600, and to get them professionally duplicated (not at CVS) will cost you another $50+. Anything less is just a glorified passport photo. If the headshots look cheap, they probably are. And you look like you don’t care about your career.

GO FOR PERSONALITY OVER GLAMOURMake sure it looks like you. Chill with the airbrushing. Casting directors expect you to look just like your headshot, and will not be happy when you show up looking totally different, or 10 years older. It’s not about looking pretty, it’s about representing your type, age wrinkles included. It should look like you on your best day, showing your age, and who you are now. It’s not about the type you want to be, it’s the type you are.

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE EYES!Just like with on-camera acting, it’s all about the eyes, and what’s happening behind them. It’s your closeup, your moment. Your eyes should be perfectly in focus, alive, and energized, and not dead and glazed over. There should be strong inner thoughts, implying a backstory and a life behind the eyes. A slight squint, and strong piercing eyes will bring a picture to life and help it stand out in a pile of hundreds. A good headshot photographer knows how to bring this out in you.

PAY ATTENTIONto framing, lighting, and background. In general, a good headshot is chest up with good lighting on your face, and no strong dramatic shadows, unless you are going in for “The Phantom of the Opera.” Three-quarter shots are good for print, and extreme closeups are good for, well, nothing. Look directly into camera, and the focus should be on the center of your eyes, not your left ear, or your shirt collar.

NATURAL LIGHT VS. STUDIO LIGHTSome photographers do both, as they offer a different look and feel. Natural light gives a very real, “film” look, which I prefer. Studio lighting tends to be a little more polished, with a more neutral backdrop. Both can be wonderful. If you are more of a sitcom actor, perhaps a good well-lit studio headshot is more suited for you. If you want to look like you are on “True Detective,” then go for the outdoor look.

CLOTHING AND PROPSI once saw a headshot of a guy with a bird on his head. Why? Because he wanted to stand out. Let’s not get crazy here. Keep it simple and classy, and follow the standard format. Professionalism gets you noticed, not desperation. Leave the Ed Hardy and the “statement” shirts at home. A simple, solid color shirt with a little texture that fits you well and matches your eyes should do the trick. No whites, and no graphics or anything you think might distract from your face. And no props. (You know that, right?) If you think you are going to play cop roles, you don’t need to wear the outfit in the headshot. It’s a bit much, and very limiting.

DON'T GO CRAZY WITH THE MAKEUPYes, lots can be done with retouching. There is no need to put on tons of makeup. You want to look like yourself on your best day, and not look like you tried too hard. they look fake in all the photos.

Model Posing Tips

By Bob Parduesource: ezinearticles.com

Whether you are searching for a career in fashion modeling or glamour modeling, it is very important for you to realize that there is more to becoming a model than just standing there looking beautiful.One very important factor in becoming a good model is posing, and in order for you to learn the different poses needed for the type of modeling career you are seeking it will take practice, practice, practice.

MAKE YOUR POSING LOOK NATURALWhen preparing for your photo shoot, there are numerous steps you can take to ensure you are comfortable while posing and your photos will look more natural.

GET POSING IDEASBefore you head to your photo shoot, pick at least ten poses you really like from fashion or glamour magazines, or poses you’ve learned from previous photo shoots. Take time to practice each pose in front of a mirror until you feel comfortable and have the confidence of knowing you look great doing these poses.

HANDS AND FACIAL EXPRESSIONAlso, focus on what to do with your hands and pay attention to facial expressions. A pose is virtually dead and unimaginative without a “look”. You should be able to close your eyes, imagine a thought, open your eyes and sell that thought. Practice this technique and your photos will come alive.

BECOME AND IDEA FACTORYUnless you are shooting for an advertising agency or some other type of special interest session many photographers recommend that you bring some of your own posing ideas to the shoot. In addition to your ideas, the photographer may have his or her own idea of how the session should go.

RAPPORT WITH YOUR PHOTOGRAPHERAlways work with a photographer you feel you can trust. This will make communication between the two of you easier and give you the confidence to express your own ideas.Always listen to what the photographer tells you. If you are really uncomfortable with the pose, let your photographer know how you feel, in a nice way. Remember, he is looking through the camera lens and might see something you don’t.If the photographer says he wants something different in the pose, try looking away from the camera or giving a unique facial expression. This is where your practice in front of the mirror really pays.

POSTUREWhen posing you should always keep good posture unless the photographer instructs you to do otherwise. Hold your stomach in to give your abdomen a more toned appearance. If you have gained a few pounds stick out your chin a little to avoid the appearance of a double chin in your photos.Keep your fingers slightly apart and pointed away from the lens. Let your hands fall naturally into position whenever possible. Remember, you want to be yourself – on purpose.Now that you have learned what to do, consider these things you should try to avoid while posing.

THINGS TO AVOID WHEN POSING FOR A PHOTOGRAPHER

MISPLACED BODY LANGUAGEBody language and expressions come naturally but the language you are projecting might not be what your photographer wants in a particular pose. You need to conciously focus on ways to prevent these habits while posing.Don’t hold your breath during a pose. Stay relaxed and your photos will look as if you just happened to be sitting this way when the photographer walked up.In most pose situations you want your arms, legs, wrists, etc. slightly bent unless you are directed to do otherwise Most people don’t stand or sit with their arms and legs completely stiff. A good point to remember is, if it will bend, bend it.

MONA LISA SMILEAnother posing tip to remember is that you don’t always have to smile. You should have a good variety of smiling and serious looks. But, sometimes you will want to give a large, open-mouthed laugh. If you are susposed to be happy, look the part!

YOUR EYES ARE THE WINDOW TO YOUR SOULDon’t always look straight into the camera. When you cut your eyes to the left or right, you create an air of mystery. When you look up and away, you are annoyed. Tilt your chin slightly down and look straight ahead for a sexy look.

ABOUT BLINKINGBeware of the Blink! If you have to blink, try to blink between exposures. This is not always easy, especially if you are working in a photography studio. Some models get into a habit of anticipating the strobes and start to close their eyes when the picture is about to be snapped.Get into the habit of not paying attention to the flash and concentrate wholy on the pose, your body language, hand position, etc. and your images will come out as you expect.

BE BOLD!!Never be afraid to try out some of your own poses in front of your photographer. Most photographers are glad to hear suggestions from you.

HOW DO YOU SEE YOURSELFWhen you look at your final images don’t be critical of yourself. Find positive ways to improve your posing. Discover your strengths and weaknesses and shoot for the stars.I am certain that Tyra Banks still works on her appearance and her posing artistry even though she has achieved a degree of stardom. Shouldn’t you?

FOR KIDS- ADD IN YOUR PERSONALITYBring your own props for a personal touch. Consider items such as baby blanket, stuffed animal, or a special toy.

Avoiding Scams and Modeling Schools Who Promise StardomBe aware of "Modeling Agencies" that bring you in for a mass casting call looking for new and fresh faces. There are a few of them out there, mainly Barbizon and John Robert Powers. These places basically give you the premonition that you or your child will become a star, but in the process they have you pay out hundreds even thousands of dollars for "Classes" or photo shoots with photographers that they recommend. These photographers then charge you a crazy fee for getting a portfolio done, sometimes over a thousand dollars. These photographers usually give the "agency" a cut of the fee for getting them the client. So instead of spending your hard earned money for something you will regret later make an informed decision on who you want to work with. Make it count, make sure the photographer offers what YOU want.

If you are adament on sticking with an ageny like this ask questions, don't go in there without knowing what you want out of a company. Modeling agencies usually don't charge you UNTIL they get you work, so avoid the pay to work and do your research. Its ok to say "NO" or you don't feel comfortable with what they are saying.